Pacific summit opens amid concerns over refugee children

Pacific leaders opened their annual diplomatic summit in Nauru Monday, but the ceremony was overshadowed by allegations that children of asylum-seekers on the tiny Pacific island have been traumatised by systemic abuse.

Nauru President Baron Waqa formally welcomed delegates to the 18-nation Pacific Islands Forum, saying the summit was a chance to demand the world take urgent action on global warming.

However, when the Nauruan leader faced a rare grilling from the media, questions centred on the plight of those detained on the remote island under an agreement with Australia.

A report released Monday said the mental health of asylum-seekers was buckling under the strain of indefinite detention, adding that "those who have seen this suffering say it is worse than anything they have seen, including in war zones."
"Children as young as seven and 12 are experiencing repeated incidents of suicide attempts, dousing themselves in petrol, and becoming catatonic."
"They're provided all the services that are provided to Nauruans and we live together very happily."
"We're working extremely hard, especially the small island states, to advocate to the world that something has to be done right away."